Year 2014 - the Year of Enrichment

As mentioned in one of my previous blog articles, my retirement plan is focused mainly on seeking enrichment, both physically and spiritually, to make up for my inadequacy over the past years owing to an overwhelming work schedule.

There is no telling yet how much I have achieved in health gain. Regarding spiritual growth, however, I can claim to have made quite some progress. For one thing, my participation in a Bible course named ‘Bible in 80 Weeks’, which aims at a perusal of the whole Bible in eighty weeks’ time, gave me very great satisfaction.

This being the 27th week, we are reading the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah. Frankly, it has never been fun reading the Old Testament. There have even been moments when I feel bored stiff. But the thought of giving up reading altogether never occurs to me. This is due to mutual support among the participants and the inspiring talks by quality speakers. 

I am also motivated to do research aside from the weekly assignment. As one of the group coordinators, I feel obliged to be better prepared so that I can more efficiently guide the sharing along.This way, I find myself benefiting greatly from the extra reading and I feel grateful for the opportunity. A very harmonious friendship has also developed among the group members. We share our thoughts not only during the meeting but also in the chat group thanks to whatsapp technology. It will be more than a year before we finish our reading, but the long process has become an enjoyment rather than a burden. Even occasional absences will not be a hindrance to our determination to pursue the journey till the very end.

I also derive great joy from a recent engagement: I will have a column in a newspaper, in which the translated pieces of a religious book are published weekly. I actually leapt at the offer as I found it an answer to my three-fold request: to seek improvement in English-to-Chinese translation, to share my writing with others and to do the work of God.

Before the actual work of translation, I have to develop an understanding of the content and the message it delivers. As the translation will be done on an abridged basis, I need to decide on the focuses and underline the key paragraphs and sentences. This is good reading and writing practice, too. The use of the right Chinese terms, especially those associated with Christianity, can also be a challenge and thus gives useful skills training.

I do enjoy the job tremendously, so much so that I have already finished the third piece even though the column will not appear until January.

Of course, it’s not always work that keeps me occupied. I can still enjoy my dancing classes on alternate days and have a good nap in the afternoon to make up for the wakeful hours at night.

The past year has been an enriched one and I have to thank God for all these blessings. 

An Advent Message

The Advent Retreat held in Mong Ha Church last Saturday evening was an event to remember. Like most of the others who attended it, I felt deeply moved and inspired. And now, looking back, I feel a strong sense of gratitude and even pride.

The retreat was assumedly the concern of the Retreat Group. But ultimately, it turned out to be a cross-group activity, involving the Choir, the 1045 Reading Group and the Parish Activity Group as well. The success of the retreat, if any, is the fruit of their joint effort.

The theme of the Advent Retreat had been conceived months before the event. Sister Victoria, the mastermind, thought of using a few verses from the book of the Prophet Isaiah, which she believed to be closely associated with the Advent message, with reference to the darkness of the sinful age, the call to repentance, the hope for the coming Messiah and the reminder of the evangelical mission. She invited the other members of the Retreat Group to search for the right verses. However, as usual, it was her choices that we gladly agreed on. After all, who else understands the Bible better than she does?

The Choir was invited to choose a few songs with lyrics that could match the Bible verses. Thanks to their expertise and good experience, the songs chosen were later found to be more than fitting, helping to bring out the message effectively and inspiringly. They then had to start the singing practice, which was understandably an added responsibility to their already tight schedule. There were also sequential requests, which further complicated the mission. But there was not a word of complaint. Instead, they made useful attempts to iron out one problem after another.

Then there was the need for slides showing pictures of the current world situation related to the scenes depicted in the Bible verses. Pictures of social chaos and the shrinking polar ice caps, for example, were focuses on the dark side of life. Scenes of ecstatic occasions and happy laughter of children, on the other hand, would signify hope brought by the coming of the Messiah. That would be the job of the IT helpers, a few members of the Reading Group. It was no easy task at all, considering the need to set appropriate time intervals between slides to allow moments of silent prayer and meditation. And, the effectiveness of the actual presentation on the night of the event was inestimable.

When everything was done and everyone was looking forward to the red letter day with hope and confidence, there came the news that Father Peter would not be able to attend it because of an urgent affair. That was a hard nut to crack since he was assigned a very important part in the event. What were we going to do? Could there be a replacement?

Fortunately, the Lord answered our prayer. The retreat took place as planned. Father Peter did make his appearance, read out a Bible passage, gave a sermon on it and even led the closing prayer. When his voice was heard leading the singing of the song ‘Here I am, Lord’, everyone present was captivated. And when the Choir joined in the singing in a chorus, it was a touching scene. Had Fr. Peter come to the retreat finally? Unfortunately not! But a miracle did occur in the form of recorded video scripts powerpoint projected. It was all due to the hard work of the IT helpers. Of course, Father Peter's kindness in preparing his recorded presentation is much appreciated.

The retreat has been a success and we are grateful for this. But shouldn’t we also be grateful that we have got very good fellow parishioners who can work in cooperation for the shared purpose of serving God? This is community spirit, which our kind Lord has taught us about. It is one of the inspirations I have got in this time of Advent and I hope it will continue to inspire us to join hands in our pursuit of faith enrichment and in our work of evangelization.

An inorganic practice

In her recent article Miss Teresa Vong brought up a very interesting topic: allowing the hair to turn grey is also one way to go organic in life. She says that the majority of senior females are not mindful of their health deterioration, but are not so receptive to an aging appearance. I couldn’t agree more, as I am one of these females.

I can claim to be an environmentalist. As mentioned in my previous blog, to avoid wastage, I refrain from unnecessary purchases. When eating out, I never order more than I can consume, and if some food does remain, I take it home. Of course, I am very careful about saving electricity and washing water. In fact, I have been having what everyone suggests about a green life.

However, there is one practice which, I am afraid, is not very organic. I cannot do without regular hair-tinting. When still a teacher, I used to explain that a youthful look would make me more approachable to students. This is true to a certain extent. Students tend to associate a teacher’s age with her willingness to accept new concepts. They may find a younger looking teacher more agreeable as the generation gap between them, if any, is still acceptable. So I tried to convince myself that I was mothering my students though I was actually the age of their grandmother.

I have retired for a year but I still feel disturbed at the sight of a few grey hairs. Graying hair, which used to appear every two months despite the tinting, now demands attention more and more frequently, increasing my dependence on the hairdresser. I keep my hair dyed black for a reason no less justifiable than the previous one: I have a lot of young friends, whose company keeps me young at heart and oblivious of the approaching old age.

Of course, there are other signs of ageing that I cannot fight against. I am well aware of the lines on my face and the loose skin on my neck. The weakness of the knees is the most alarming of all. It thus seems silly to struggle to stem the tide of ageing. But I am still used to my black hair, though artificially so. I know one day I will have to surrender completely to my true self. But before that, let me be just a bit less organic.

Joy of an Austere Lifestyle

Before my retirement, shopping had been an infrequent pastime for me because of my tight work schedule. Now, despite abundant time at my disposal, I shop even less often. In fact, I shop only when necessary. Not being a wage earner anymore is only a minor reason. What discourages me from shopping lavishly is the realization of the seriousness of the waste disposal problem resulting from unnecessary purchases.

 

The problem first made it felt one morning when a cold breeze set me off sneezing and I opened the wardrobe to get a cardigan. I was struck by the sight of the hanging clothes pressed tightly together as to leave no breathing space at all … well, if clothes could breathe. I had searched for quite some time before finding the cardigan I was looking for. What crossed my mind at that moment was how I could reorganize the garments before the wardrobe fell into pieces. But to sort all those clothes out would be as much an impossible mission as to clear the data stored in my PC and my mobile. I decided to start doing something, somehow, someday.

 

There were actually more clothes than I would need for another ten or more years. Some had been hanging there unnoticed. But my one regret was that I had outgrown quite a few and that would mean a lot to dispose of. To ease the problem, I came up with an idea: while discarding or handing out some of the ill-fitting clothes, I would make good use of those still presentable. And I even embarked on what I considered a very challenging feat, namely, to reduce my size by dieting.

 

Now two months has passed and I can proudly announce that most of the clothes are the right size for me. And I delight particularly in the mix-and-match, adding glamour to what used to be mediocre attire. That is the kind of fun I was deprived of in those days when dressing up before work was done in a rush and when there was a dress code for teachers to abide by. Exploring for ‘new’ discoveries in the wardrobe is no less fun than browsing the showcases of the boutiques.

 

Of course, the greatest satisfaction is my success in weight loss. Cutting down on fat and sugar consumption has led to more desirable blood pressure. My arm injury has also recovered gradually as a result of exercising every day.

 

It’s only now in my retirement life that I have finally learned to appreciate the joy of a healthy and austere lifestyle.

 

Be Intelligent and Caring citizens

With reference to Kerry Kennedy’s article entitled ‘A liberal mind’ in the ‘South China Morning Post’ dated October 30, I would like to express my point of view about the importance of developing genuine citizenship.

 

Genuine citizenship is what students need to be educated on as it is a key factor in the well being of the city. This is particularly true at these particular times when the Occupy Central movement is making a huge impact on the lives of the Hong Kong residents. The protesters may consider themselves striving for a worthy cause, trying to make a difference to the future of Hong Kong. However, as caring citizens, they ought to be aware of their responsibilities and cannot turn a deaf ear to the complaints their courses of action have led to. What they are doing would be worth nothing, however lofty an ideal it may seem, if many are made to pay the high cost of it.

 

As mentioned in Kerry Kennedy’s article, students ought to learn to be ‘literate citizens, not single-issue citizens looking for quick fixes to complex problems’. The protesters need to have a good understanding of the electoral arrangements for the Chief Executive Election as an issue too complex to deal with speedily. It is necessary, too, to evaluate different sources of information related to the issue and to view it from various perspectives. While making their own judgment about the issue, they should also be willing to consider other solutions apart from the one they abide by.

 

We have seen on TV how the protesters’ representatives negotiated with the government officials. We appreciate their confidence and sincerity. But we would also like to see them more enlightened and equipped with better skills to speak convincingly while at the same time showing tolerance of opponent points of view over areas of disagreement. This, as Kerry Kennedy suggests, is what is expected of democratic citizens.

 

Last but not least, students should learn to be law-abiding citizens as a city's well being depends on the citizens' respect for and adherence to law. Anything students do should be within the law. Refusal to comply with the injuncture issued by the court of law is a serious breach of law that should be condemned.

 

In brief, I see genuine citizenship as a requisite for democracy and social involvement. Students ought to be trained to be intelligent and caring citizens if they aspire to contribute to a democratic society.

 

Rich Kids; Poor Kids

 There are two different attitudes towards parenting. Some parents are eager to provide their children with material affluence even if they are actually struggling to make ends meet. Having experienced long years of poverty themselves, they hope to see their children enjoying what they were deprived of in their own childhood. One thing they cannot bear is to see their children victimized by their poverty. On the other hand, there are parents who think that it is better for their children to get adapted to and be better equipped for the difficulties of life. They, therefore, try in every way to expose their children to an austere lifestyle, refusing to meet their material desire beyond what they actually need.  

Well convinced that both types of parents wish the best for their children, I am somehow more in favour of the second approach. Children brought up in poverty learn from experience that life is not a bed of roses and that they will have to solve their own problems instead of depending on others for help. In fact, while the first type of parents tend to smooth the path for their children, the other type are more keen on giving their children life skill training, helping them acquire cognitive flexibility and self-care ability. These children can thus face struggles and challenges with greater confidence and courage and are more likely to achieve success later in life. 

Conversely, children whose parents are ever ready with a cushion to soften the foreseeable fall well before they make any assumedly risky attempt will never venture beyond their comfort zone. Besides, as they have got used to having everything well prepared for them, they cannot survive in times of adversity. They blame everyone and everything except themselves and end up an emotional wreck. This may seem an overstatement. But it is not far from the truth that children whose material wants are easily satisfied cannot handle frustrations and setbacks properly.  

By no means do I suggest that children should live in misery as a happy childhood is everybody’s right. How parents can prepare children for future challenges without depriving them of their childhood joy is what matters. Parents should remember that a simple day’s outing can be as much a source of joy to their children as a visit to Disneyland. In short, they should guide them to appreciate the simplicity of life.

 

Say No to the Ice Bucket Challenge

People organize activities to raise public awareness of a social or global need. We are familiar with an annual campaign known as the 30-hour Famine aimed at drawing attention to the global hunger crisis. School children are sometimes seen picking rubbish on the beach to remind the public to keep the environment clean. These activities have gained wide acceptance as they serve the purpose very well.

The Ice Bucket Challenge, which has grabbed world attention soon after its initiation, is aimed at raising fund for ALS research. It seems to be serving a cause worth great support. In fact, the activity has led to huge donations suggesting hope for a more effective cure for the disease through greater amounts on stringent research. However, it has sparked criticism lately. Why? Personally, I see this as nothing more than a viral phenomenon and would like to see it banned as soon as possible.

The act of dumping ice water on someone is meant to make him feel sympathetic about the kind of suffering the ALS victims are going through. Unfortunately, while some take the challenge with good intention, for some others, the focus is on the fun. The pictures and videos we are exposed to tend to show the ecstatic excitement of the participants. There are many who take the challenge and pass it on, quite ignorant of its original purpose. Some even take this for an in-thing to do. This may lead to a misunderstanding of the plight of the victims and an underestimation of the seriousness of the need for research on this disease.

Then the huge amount of water wasted, and still being wasted, in the name of the Ice Bucket Challenge is no less lamentable. When so much has been said and done to avoid wastage, the idea of pouring bucket and bucket of water on the ground is condemnable. Making ice cubes is itself a waste of power, too. How can we not think of many in the remote parts of China and other drought-stricken areas of the world who have to walk long distances just to get a bucket of water, which they will use and reuse before discarding it finally? For them, every drop of water counts. Are we doing these needy ones justice if we keep wasting water thoughtlessly?

By no means am I heedless for the need for ALS research. I would like to see improved medical advances in this field more than anything else. Having an ALS victim among my family members, I understand just too well what kind of suffering the disease can bring. What I am asking for is a better fund raising activity than the Ice Bucket Challenge.